How to get your boss to see your value
How to get your boss to see your value
Do you have trouble being recognised for your achievements?
Good work should speak for itself but sometimes we need attention drawn to it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, so if you want to get ahead, learn to make noise, and get the recognition you deserve.
1. Learn to speak and take up space
It is hard to be recognised for your achievements if you hold yourself back and are reluctant to speak. Confidence is key – knowing your value and interacting with others as though you and your work is valuable is essential. No matter how menial your job, it is important to know what you have achieved today. If you are shy or reserved, that’s OK, but you need to pick your moments to shine and let others see your worth.
2. Do you recognise your own value?
Your work is valuable, otherwise you wouldn’t be paid to do it!
Count your successes and your wins. These don’t need to be hard numbers because creating great relationships and a great team culture is as valuable as hard achievements. It is important to know the value in what you do and find personal value in what you create.
3. Frame conversations and meetings in terms of achievements (especially with your boss!)
Always lead with your successes!
Some days, it’s easy to focus on what hasn’t be done and your boss might be distracted with other goals. It may be up to you to set the tone of conversations and interactions. Make sure you have a semi-regular catch up with your boss and let them know your achievements since the last time you saw them.
If you have a team meeting, lead by describing your achievements in your area of work.
4. Always send a thank you email at the end of a project
Call out the successes of every team member’s contributions, but also note your own. Colleagues may simply not know the amount of work that was put into something, or how challenging it was. Speak for your success and show off your work!
5. Create opportunities to share knowledge on what you are good at
Do you want to be recognised as an expert or leader in a particular field? Teaching and showing others is always a good place to start. Set up a weekly ‘lunch and learn’ sessions to share your skills; lead your team in lunchtime yoga or start a community of practice. Show your value and get people talking – your boss will have to take note.
6. Create positive relationships and a positive culture
Contributing to a positive team culture means you are creating value.
Success is not just about hard numbers but the relationships you create. Banking positive interactions with others will increase your personal stock and the value others see in you.
Invest in others and it is likely they will invest in you. And if people have nice things to say about you, that can only help increase your value in the eyes of your boss.
7. Set the tone – you can lead in defining value and success
You may have a boss that is only concerned with hard numbers, targets, profit margins or tangible outputs. But here’s the thing – often they are paid to be responsible for these things. The question is, what are you going to take responsibility for? Hard numbers are important for business success and some projects are going to be higher profile than others, but it is up to you to lead in defining ‘value’ for yourself and for your team.
Ask to set a meeting where your team discusses success and what that looks like. Set up a program of reward and recognition for your team, better yet, work on career goals and planning based on your personal values and achievements. At the end of the year, run through this with your boss so they can see what you have achieved.
Leadership is culture, and you can decide to lead and create value for those around you. Couple this with hard achievements and your boss will have to see your value.